How to Wear Fashion Reptile Prints

A snake or lizard print may seem as loud as a hissing cobra, but this wild pattern is tame enough to work in an office or a club. The key is to let the reptilian clothes or accessories be the statement-making piece --don't introduce competition in the form of other prints. Pick snakeskin, snake-embossed leather or reptile prints on cloth to add a dash of the exotic to your everyday wardrobe.

Top It Off

You might think a snake-print jacket would be overkill, but a leather one set against tailored black can be edgy yet tasteful, while a cotton version can be a chic complement to white summer shorts. A breezy reptile-print blouse with a neutral skirt or pants and simple heels works on the job, while a snake-print sweater is a cool-yet-warm pick that pairs with work separates or jeans. For downtime, a fitted T-shirt with either a full or partial reptile print looks awesome with shorts, sandals and an oversized leather tote. If you don't want to go reptilian all the way, choose a print trim on an otherwise solid piece.

Snake Legs

Plucking reptile-print pants off the rack can be a gutsy call, knowing that they will pull eyes down to your hips and legs. If you've got the moxie to wear them, keep the accessories minimalist and decide whether you want to play up the hard edge of the look or soften it up a bit. A cozy angora sweater and boots provides cuddly contrast to the strong reptilian print, while a sparkly blouse or camisole and strappy heels kicks the edginess quotient up a notch. Picking up the print in shorts means you don't have to commit to quite as much reptile, but you're still rocking a statement piece. For understated glam, reptile-print shorts can pair with a simple V-neck tee and loafers or sandals. For a paparazzi-ready look, pair these shorts with an embellished tank, cashmere hoodie, boots and a few bangles for bling.

Ladylike Lizard

Reptile prints generally don't work from head to toe, but they can work from the shoulders to the hips. A sleek reptile print dress can be cut in a sleeveless sheath or a long-sleeved wrap style and be appropriate for the 9-to-5 shift when styled with solid-color accessories. A spaghetti-strap chiffon maxi dress takes the exotic print poolside or, when styled with gold sandals and a leather bag, out to lunch in the big city. A reptilian skirt can come in a lean pencil style for an office setting; balance it out with a black boatneck top and simple heels. For a look that's casual and fun, pair a snake-print miniskirt with opaque tights and top it off with a soft cardigan over a lacy tank.

Say It With Snakeskin

A cool dash of reptile print can be as simple as a pair of snake-frame sunglasses, giving a funky edge to a clean, sophisticated black look or a safari vibe to a khaki ensemble. A gauzy scarf in a lizard print works with a basic A-line dress in the office or with a minidress out on the town. A big snake-embossed leather bag or vibrant reptile-print satchel is a statement accessory that, paired with crisp solid colors, transitions from day to night just as easily. The key is to not load on competing prints and avoid trying to match reptilian accessories to snake-print clothes. Snake-print heels, boots and flats can work with both dressy and casual styles in either jewel tone or neutral palettes. Guys can experiment with snakeskin boots or a Western-flair belt offset with simple dark jeans and a button-down.